MONITORING (SW) – The United States has expressed ‘strong support’ for a unified and sovereign Afghanistan, and has ‘strongly opposed’ action to establish a parallel government.
The U.S. Department of State said in a statement that Washington welcomes President Ashraf Ghani’s statement at his inauguration March 9 that discussions and negotiations will continue for the next two weeks to come to an agreement on an inclusive government which unifies the country and prioritizes peace. “We also welcome President Ghani’s announcement that he will issue a decree March 10 on Taliban prisoner release and the formation of a national team for intra-Afghan negotiations. We appreciate Dr. Abdullah’s statement March 9 underscoring similar commitments to peace and inclusivity”, it said.
According to the statement, conscious of the yearning of the Afghan people for peace, the United States is working to achieve an agreement by the two sides and will remain steadfast in the effort to drive all parties toward that goal.
It further said the U.S.-Taliban Agreement and the U.S.-Afghanistan Joint Declaration create an historic opportunity. “Prioritizing an inclusive government and unified Afghanistan is paramount for the future of the country and particularly for the cause of peace”, said the statement.
This comes as President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah decided to hold contrasting oath taking ceremonies for the top office Monday.
ENDS
